MA Gov. Charlie Baker: State Must Crack Down on Welfare Fraud

Gov. Charlie Baker said it is crucial for the state “to be aggressive” in tracking down welfare fraud after a Worcester convenience store owner was accused of operating a $3.6 million food stamp fraud scheme.

“Each time someone who is gaming the system and stealing from everyone here in the commonwealth gets arrested, that’s a good thing,” Baker said yesterday. “From my point of view, we need to be aggressive at making sure because the credibility of the commonwealth is at stake.”

The Herald reported yesterday that Vida Ofori Causey, 45, was arrested in connection with a $3.6 million food stamp fraud scheme. The Worcester woman faces charges including one count of conspiracy to commit SNAP benefits fraud, one count of SNAP fraud and one count of money laundering in what federal prosecutors called a four-year fraud scheme.